Overshoe



Oct. 1, 1929. w BINDER I 1329316 OVERSHOE Filed June 15, 1928 6 ZZZ/'7. 5.

IN VE/VTOH VVZz/fer Binder.

Patented Oct. 1, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WALTER J. BINDER, OF TBENTON F'EW JERSEY ovnnsnon Application filed June 15, 1928. Serial 1T0. 285,601.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an overshoe, intended more particularly for emergency use, which is of novel construction and embodies characteristics 5 and advantages not heretofore found in footwear of the general class to which the invention relates.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide an overshoe which is satisfactorily adapted for the performance of its intended function yet which is extremely light in weight, compact, and thus adapted to be carried in a handbag or even in the pocket with a maximum of convenience and without oocupying much space, and which is so constructed as to readily adhere to. and remain in posit-ion upon shoes of various sizes; thus by manufacturing the overshoe in but a relatively small number of sizes the entire range of sizes'of shoes normally worn may be covered while the dealer is enabled to meet the needs of the purchasing public by carrying i1111 stock only a few diiferent sizes of the overs cc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an overshoe of the character aforesaid which is relatively durable so that it may be worn several times, or for a relatively long period of time continuously, before it becomes unserviceable, and to provide such an overshoe so constructed that if out or torn the hole will not enlarge itself with undue rapidity and thus render the overshoe useless in a very short period of time,'a defect which is necessarily present in at least one type of emergency overshoe with which I am familiar.

Further objects, advantages and novel features of construction comprehended by my invention are hereinafter more particularl mentioned or will be apparent from the f0 lowing description of certain forms of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying singly as shown in Fig. 2: so as to produce a drawing.

' In the said drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my inventionv inposition on a shoe; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the element which constitutes the base or body ofthe overshoe and prior to its being coated with elastic, flexible water-resistant as hereinafter described, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the finished overshoe shown in Fig. 1 partially broken away into section to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 4 is a transverse sec-- tion through the overshoeremoved from the shoe and showing a slightly modified construction; Fig. 5 is a view substantially similar to Fig. 1 showing an overshoe constructedin accordance with another modified form of the invention and Fig. 6 is a view showing a still further modified form of the invention with a portion of the overshoe broken away into section. The same, numerals are used to illustrate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring now more particularly to the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, itwill be 'ap arent that the overshoe 1 is of generally ho low frustro-conical form, open at its larger end and tapering toward its smallerand closed end, so that when drawn over the toe of theboot or shoe it will enclose the same, form a snug fit there on and extend well up on the vamp so as to aiford adequate protection to that part of the shoe most liable to penetration by dampness or water. To insure this snugness of fit, the overshoe is so constructed as to aflord a relatively large capacity for transverse or crosswise stretch or expansion and to this'end in I the manufacture of the overshoe the base or body 2 is first formed by knitting from suit: able yarn, preferably through the medium of a suitable knitting machine, or by weaving 3 a special fabric having a relatively great capacity to stretch in at least one (llIBCtIOIL' The body may either be knitted or woven complete unitary structure without scams, or

a continuous tube may first be knitted or woven and then cut off into suitable lengths and one end of each of the pieces so formed then seamed together, so as to produce the base or body, or the fabric may be woven or knitted'flat and then suitably cut and seamed so as to form the base or body in such manner that its maximum stretching capacity is in a generally transverse or crosswise direction. Thus, irrespective of its particular method of manufacture, the base or body resembles generally the toe of an ordinary seek or stocking and due to its method of formation, that is, by knitting, weaving or the like, has a relatively large capacity for stretching or expansion both transversely or crosswise and, what is less important for the purposes of the invention, longitudinally, and is thus adapted to adhere quite snugly to any object such as the toe of a boot or shoe of suitable size over which it may be pulled.

The base having been constructed as described is then placed on a form preferably approximating the shape of the toe of a boot or shoe and impregnated or coated with a suitable elastic, fiexible and water-resistant material such as rubber, bakelite, cellulose lacquers or the like, which are applied in any suitable way as by spraying or by dipping the base in the coating material. If rubber or rubber-like materials are used for the coating it will be preferable though not necessary to vulcanize the coating after application to the base in any of the ordinary and well known ways, thus producing the finished coating 3 which completely covers the exterior of the base and thoroughly impregnates the body thereof as well. I prefer to ordinarily form a small half-round head or thicker edging 5 adjacent the open end of the overshoe as the same is of assistance in maintaining the latter in proper position on the shoe; this bead may be formed in numerous ways as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, for example, by rolling the end of the base 2 over on itself prior to the coating operation or by depositing an excess of the coating material adjacent the end of the base or in any other suitable manner.

It will of course be understood that the coating material is applied to the base when the latter is in unstretched or normal condition and further that for the most satisfactory results under conditions of use the elasticity of the coating material in the finished overshoe should approximate the elasticity or stretching capacity so that both the coating and the base will move unitarily when expanding or contracting. The result is that the base member affords a firm but yielding support for the coating material at all times and whether in normal 01' in stretched condition, thus enhancing-the durability of the where they occur. This ability of my improved overshoe to localize and prevent the spreading of punctures, cuts or tears is an important advantage which is entirely absent from these forms of emergency footwear heretofore suggested and which consist of solely a thin film of rubber or the like which, when the overshoe is in position on the boot or shoe, is in a state of considerable tension, so that immediately upon the occurrence of a puncture, cut or tear the latter spreads from the point of its initial occurrence and immediately renders the overshoe entirely unserviceable.

If desired and in order to facilitate the pulling of the overshoe over the toe of the shoe of the wearer small tabs 6' may be secured at diametrically opposed points on the inside of the overshoe at any suitable time in its process of manufacture so as to project a little beyond the bead 5 and thus afford a convenient point to be gripped between the thumb and forefinger while the overshoe is being drawn into position.

Under most conditions I prefer to make the coating 3 of uniform thickness substantially throughout its extent but, if desired, the thickness of the coating may be increased throughout that area of the overshoe which is designed tolieubeneath the sole of the shoe when in useto thereby provide greater wearing capacity throughout that portion or area of the overshoe which is normally subjected to the greatest amount of wear. In Fig; 4 I have shown an overshoe of this character, the coating 5 throughout that portion of the overshoe which normally encloses the upper part and sides of the toe of the shoe being of usual thickness and that portion which is designed to lie beneath the sole being of some what greater thickness as indicated at 3'.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except for the omission of the tabs 6 and the provision of an elastic U-shaped strap 7-designed to extend rearwardly and upwardly from the open end of the overshoeand about the heel or quarter of the shoe to assist in retaining the overshoe in'position. Under ordinarycondi-v tions the inherent elasticity of the overshoe is entirely sufficient to maintain it in position on the shoe but under certain circumstances the rovision of the strap may be found desira 1e and is thus within contemplation of my invention.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a still further modified form of the invention in which the base is so shaped as to enclose the vamp, counter and a portion of the upper of the shoe as shown but is provided with an opening 8 for the passage of theheel H, the base being of course coated with the elastic flexible waterresistant material as in the other forms of the invention heretofore described.

It will thus be apparent that overshoes constructed in accordance with my invention may be manufactured at a very low cost for the body or base can be formed very cheaply from relatively inexpensive yarn and then coated with the elastic, flexible water-resistant material at a minimum of expense with resulting production of an article which can be sold at a popular price. On the other hand, due to the improved and peculiar construction of the overshoe by which a maximum of transverse elasticity or stretching capacity is obtained, the overshoe may be satisactorily applied to shoes difiering considerably in size and when so ap lied will remain in position thereon under al ordinary conditions of use and effectually prevent the penetration of moisture or dampness into the toe and that portion of the sole of the shoe which contacts with the-pavement. As heretofore explained the flexible elastic coating and the yielding body of the overshoe expand and contract together when the overshoe is placed upon or removed from the shoe and thus work .in unison with each other while, because of a very compact package which may be read ily carried in the pocket, handbag or the like so as to be always available for use when required, while because of the efi'ective support afforded to the coating by the base at all times and under all conditions the durability of the overshoes is materially in creased so that they may be worn for a number of times before they have to be discarded and replaced with a new pair. Moreover, because'of the ver low price at which overshoes embodying t e principles of my invention may be manufactured and sold, several pairs may be readily owned by a single individual and kept in various locations ready for use should the necessity arise, as, for ex-. ample, the owners home and place .of business, or they may be purchased when and as required in travelin or the like and either thrown away after being worn once or else preserved for subsequent use.

If desired the coating may be painted or otherwise treated so as to imitate foxing or I to produce any suitable design thereon to enhance the appearance and attractiveness of the overshoe. Moreover, it will be apparent that because of the improved method of construction of the overshoe forming the subject of the present invention, the necessity of separately forming and then securing a number of separate parts together by vulcanization in ina mold or otherwise as has hitherto been required in the manufacture of most styles of rubbers and overshoes is entirely avoided.

While I have herein illustrated and described with considerable particularity certain forms of overshoes constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention I do not thereby intend to limit myself specifically thereto as minor changes and modifications may be made in the design, conclaim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. An overshoe of the class described embodying a tubular base of relatively loosely knitted or woven fabric, closed at one end and open at the other and capable of being stretched in all directions from its normal condition, and a coating of elastic, flexible water-resistant material disposed on the exterior of the base and impregnating the body thereof and having substantially similar stretching properties as the base whereby when the overshoe is drawn over the toe of a shoe the base and the coating stretch substantially unitarily to accommodate themselves to theconfiguration of the shoe and snugly adhere thereto, said fabric base being highly elastic and arranged to stretch transversely substantially the same as the elastic covering to permit the overshoe to fit a plurality of widths of shoes without impairing the reinforcement of the elastic covering.

2. An overshoe of the class described comprising a tubular base of relatively loosely knitted or woven fabric having the capacity of stretching transversely from its normal condition and closed at one end and open at the other, and a coating ofelastic, flexible water-resistant material disposed on the exterior of the base,'impregnating the body thereof and adapted to stretch uniformly and substantially unitarily with the base in a transverse direction whereby the overshoe is adapted to fit a plurality of widths of shoes without impairing the reinforcement of the coating, said coating being thickened throughout a-predetermined area adapted to lie beneath the sole of the shoe when the overshoe is drawn over the toe thereof.

3. An overshoe of the class described comprising a single piece tubular base of relatively loosely knitted or, woven fabric having the capacity of stretching transversely from its normal condition and closed at one end and open at the other, and a coating of elastic, flexible water-resistant material disposed on the base, impregnating the body thereof and adapted to stretch uniformly and substantial- 1y unitarily with the base in a, transverse direction whereby the overshoe is adapted to fit a plurality of widths of shoes without impairing the reinforcement of the coating, said coating being thickened throughout a predetermined area adapted to lie beneath the sole of the shoe when the overshoe is drawn over the toe thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my handthis 12th day of June, 1928.

WALTER J. BINDER. 

